Ecologism Questions Overview

8/12/2019 Ecologism Questions Overview

1/26

Short Answer Questions


2/26

Short Answer Questions are marked out of 155 marks for knowledge/understanding; 7 marks for analysis andevaluation; 3 marks forquality of communication.

You should spend 15 minson each answer 250 to 300 words.Questions may have two parts eg: How and why (answer both)

Answers should beconcise you do not need an introductionor a conclusion. The questions focus on narrow parts of thespecification this will usually require a definition andexplaining why orhow concept you are looking at is important.

Answers require precise definitions, an accurate use ofterminology, supporting facts, quotations and names.

Unit 4 examines ideological traditions that have developed outof, or emerged in opposition to, liberalism, conservatism andsocialism. Questions in Unit 4 aremore likely to look at

links/criticisms associated with liberalism, conservatism andsocialism than com arin to ics within Unit 4.


3/26

Short answer questions are likely to focus on:

Different views of the world/politics

Deep and shallow ecologism

Environmental ethics

Difficulties in achieving green goals

Different types of Ecologism(eco-socialism, eco-anarchism, eco-feminism. These questions aremore likely if there is no essay on ecologism)

Links with other ideologies (conservatism,fascism and liberalism. These questions are morelikely to be set if there is no essay on ecologism)


4/26

Questions on different views of theworld/politics

Typical questions:

How do ecologists view nature, and

what implications does this view havefor the economy?

What is anthropocentrism and why doecologists object to anthropocentrism?

What is industrialism, and why have

ecologists criticised industrialism?


5/26

How do ecologists view nature, and whatimplications does this view have for the economy?

Ecologists, particularly deep ecologists, see

nature as an interconnected whole made up ofhumans, non-humans and the inanimate world.

This ecocentric view doesnot give any priorityto humanity. Allplants and animals aresustained by self-regulating systems(ecosystems). Thus humans need to live in

harmony with nature rather than dominate it.

(this contrasts with the conventionalanthropocentric view that nature is a resource

that exists to satisfy human needs)


6/26

How do ecologists view nature, and whatimplications does this view have for the economy?

Although the ecologist view of nature has implicationsfor the way we view what is ethical , this questionfocuses on the implications for the economy.

The ecologist view of nature implies:there are limits to growth (can mention Limits toGrowth Report, spaceship earth entropy etc)

a commitment to sustainability (can mention

Schumacher and Small is Beautiful)

Dark greens are associated with an anti-growthoutlook, shallow greens are associated with

sustainable growth.


7/26

What is anthropocentrism and why doecologists object to anthropocentrism?

Anthropocentrism is the belief that human need is ofoverriding moral and philosophical importance.Only the human species has intrinsic (essential) value.Non human nature only has value to the extent it is

valuable to us.The natural world thus exists to servethe needs of humankind.

Concern for ourselves at the expense of concern for the

non-human world is the basic cause of environmentaldamage and will lead to disaster.Ecologists put forward the idea of ecocentism.


8/26

What is industrialism, and why haveecologists criticised industrialism?Greens see industrialismas part of the super ideology

which associated is with all mainstream ideologies. It islinked with:a commitment to economic growth

support for large scale production

a belief in the overriding importance of materialism

an absolute belief in science and technology

an anthropocentric view of the world


9/26

What is industrialism, and why haveecologists criticised industrialism?

Criticisms include it is based on:an anthropocentric view of the world whichencourages people to treat nature as nothing

more than a resource to satisfy humans

the relentless pursuit of economic growth andmaterialism. This results in environmentalproblems such as the depletion of resources.Unchecked this will destroy the fragileecosystem that sustains all life.


10/26

Distinguish between deep and shallowecologyDeep ecology is a branch of ecologism which

seeks a complete re-orientationof human socialand political life in order to achieve a newbalance with nature. Most environmental

protection is only skin deep; the only way todeal with current environmental damage is tocreate a whole new ay of life.

This involves developing environmental ethicsand taking a holistic approach. Deep greensocieties will be small scale, decentralised andself-sufficient.


11/26

Distinguish between deep and shallowecology

Shallow ecologism is a less radical form ofecologism. It still paces the needs of humansabove those of nature, but sees that humansurvival requires a series of major changes tohow humans approach the environment.Shallow ecologism is associated with ideas suchas sustainable development and conservation.

Unlike deep ecologism, shallow ecologism iscompatible with a number of other conventionalideologies


12/26

Questions on different types of difficulties inachieving green goals

Typical questions:Why is it difficult to achieve ecological goals

by democratic means?

Why, and how, is ecologism associated with

authoritarianism?


13/26

Why is it difficult to achieve ecological goals bydemocratic means?

You need to explain ecological goals before looking at why theyare difficult to achieve by democratic means.

Ecological goals are linked to an ecocentricoutlook and arejection of anthropocentrism. This would involve:

radical change carried out quickly. For example, cuttingpopulation size and reducing consumption

a complete re-organisation of society. Ecologism is associatedwith self-sufficient decentralised communities


14/26

Why is it difficult to achieve ecological goals by democratic means?

Ecologists tend to be much more critical of representativedemocracy than of direct democracy.Ecological goals are difficult to achieve through conventional

democratic processes because:Electoral competition encourages parties to compete byoffering greater economic growth and consumerism.

Also radical change is needed, but parties need to

compromise in order to win votes.

Policies now have an impact on the environment nowand inthe future but governments generally focus on the short term (4-5 year electoral cycle). Many of those affected (futuregenerations and the non-human world) do not have a vote!

Many environmental problems are international in characterbut democratic structures and processes are mainly based

around the nation-state.


15/26

Why, and how, is ecologism associated with authoritarianism?

Authoritarianism involves political rule being imposed fromabove without consent.

Ecologism is associated with authoritarianism because:

radical change needs to be carried out quickly in order to dealwith the severe environmental crisis. For example, cutting

population size and reducing consumption . The only way to dothis is by imposing restrictions on people, eg by limiting familysize. Democratic approaches are ineffective.

of links between fasicsm and ecologism. Nazism tended to be

critical of urbanisation and industrialisation and focused moreon the past and ties to the land (peasant ideology) but it wasalso authoritarian.There things which ecologism and fascism do not have incommon,eg aggressive nationalism.


16/26

Questions on environmental ethics

Have ecologists revised conventional notions ofmorality?Conventional notions of morality are anthropocentric andtherefore place the interests of humans above those of the naturalworld. This, ecologists argue, provides a moral justification forenvironmental destruction. Eg, Utilitarianism through the idea

of economic man, has encouraged the belief that the naturalworld constitutes nothing more that a resource available to satisfythe interests of current human generations, regardless of theimpact on other species, later generations, or nature itself.

Ecologists have therefore revised these ideas in a variety of ways.These include that utilitarianism has been extended to coverother sentient species; that future generations have beeninvested with moral rights, and, most importantly, that nature

has been recognised as having value in itself, intrinsic value.


17/26

Questions on different types of EcologismTypical questions:

Explain the ideas of eco-socialism.

Why have deep ecologists criticisedeco-socialism?

Why might eco-socialism be considereda contradiction in terms?

What is eco-feminism?What links are there between ecologismand anarchism?

E l i h id f i li


18/26

Explain the ideas of eco-socialism.Eco-socialism is based on the idea that capitalism is the enemy ofthe environment, while socialism is its friend. Capitalism ischaracterised by the destruction of the environment, as both

human labour and the natural world are exploited because theyare treated simply as economic resources.Such tendencies springfrom the existence of private property, which legitimises humandomination over nature, and it is encouraged by the profit motive

and competition, both of which emphasise the importance ofeconomic concerns over environmental ones.

Eco-socialists argue that socialism is naturally ecological. Ifwealth is owned in common it will be used in the interests of all

rather than in the interests of the ruling class or a capitalist elite.This means that it will be used in the long-term interests ofhumanity, taking account of the ecological impact of economicactivity.

NB: you dont have to explain tensions that exist betweenecologism and socialism.

Wh h d l i t iti i d i li ?


19/26

Why have deep ecologists criticised eco-socialism?This question requires :an outline of what eco-socialism is

A brief description of the term deep ecologism

deep ecologistsargue socialism is part of the super ideology ofindustrialisation and is anthropocentric. Socialism is thus nomore ecologically sound than capitalism.

Can use examples such as the Chernobyl disaster

Why might eco-socialism be considered a contradiction interms?This question is similar to the question above. It requires anexplanation of what eco-socialism. The contradiction relates tothe fact that socialism is part of the super ideology ofindustrialisation and is anthropocentric.

Wh i f i i ?


20/26

What is eco-feminism?Eco-feminism is based on the idea women are closer to naturethan men and would be better protectors of the environment.Ecological problems have their origins in patriarchy.For some feminists, men and women are essentially the same(androgyny). However socially created gender differences haveresulted in men becoming divorced from the private world ofnurturing and home making.

Womens nurturing role provides them with values, eg caringand compassion,which contribute towards a greater feeling for

/understanding of the natural world.

However,most eco-feminists are difference feminists -innate

biologicaldifferences mean women have a greateraffinitytowards the environment than men.Menare characterised byintellect over intuition, materialism over spirituality, and amechanical view of the world over a holistic one. Patriarchy

thus results in menhaving a disregard for nature.


21/26

Essay Questions

Essays require broader knowledge than short answer questions but your


22/26

Essays require broader knowledgethan short answer questions, but youranswer still needs to be focused.Questions will be open ended -they maypermit two or more legitimate answers.

Answers should have a beginning (introduction), a middle(argument) and an

end(conclusion)

Introduction should:Define key terms used in the questionShow an understanding of the point of the questionOutline argument to be adopted/conclusion favoured. This is optional

Argument should:Make points in a logically related orderConsidercontrasting viewpoints (for/against, +s/-s, benefits/drawbacks)Support points with appropriate evidence (make a point and prove it)

Qualify points where appropriate (however, on the other hand etc)Conclusions

Are needed (do not sit on the fence unless the question invites you to)Should be short and clear. Start with a one sentence answer to thequestion set (in conclusion)

Summarise key factors that support your conclusion (no new material)


23/26

Ecologism essays tend to focus on twomain areas:

the relationship between humans

and nature/natural world

ecologism and links with other

ideologies


24/26

Ecologism implies a radically different relationship betweenhumankind and the natural world. Discuss.

This essay requires:An explanation of the ecocentrism and anthropocentrism

A distinction between deep and shallow ecology

An outline of the implications of a deep ecological approachin terms of things such as:

economic organisation, (zero economic growth andcomplete economic restructuring focusing on small scale etc)

environmental ethics

a recognition that shallow ecologism will result in lessradical change.

Ecologism fundamentally rejects all conventional political


25/26

Ecologism fundamentally rejects all conventional politicalcreeds . Discuss

This essay requires an understanding that while deep

ecologism rejects all conventional political creeds, shallowecologism has drawn on ideas from creeds such as conservatismfascism, socialism, anarchism and feminism. As a result fusedcreeds such as eco-socialism and eco-feminism have developed.

Good answers will:Clearly explain the difference between an ecocentric and ananthropocentric view (giving examples of how ideologies suchas socialism and liberalism are anthropocentric)

Explain why certain creeds are hospitable to ecological ideasand why they may not be completely hospitable.

The goals of ecologism can only be achieved through radical


26/26

The goals of ecologism can only be achieved through radicalsocial change. Discuss.

The key aspect in this essay is understanding the term radical socialchange this refers to social ecology.Altering the relationship between humans and nature through radicalsocial change is associated with:

Eco-socialistsEco-anarchists

Eco-feministsHowever, radical social change has been rejected in two main ways:some shallow ecologists believe that ecological concerns can be metthrough gradual reforms, which are compatible with economic growthand the maintenance of the capitalist system.

Deep ecologists do not believe radical social change is enough. Whatis needed is a paradigm change. This will result in a complete change inrelationship people have with nature, eg ecocentrism, different view ofethics, holism, the nature of human fulfilment.

Documents

Ecologism Questions Overview